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What is LACOSS?
The Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School (LACOSS) is a one week, Monday through Friday, residential outdoor science school. This excellent educational program has been providing science enrichment experiences to fifth and sixth grade students since 1960. It is coordinated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education and is conducted as a California public school. We are a school, not a camp. Our primary focus is science education, not recreation. This year we expect to serve approximately 12,000 fifth and sixth grade students from schools and districts throughout Los Angeles County. For most students, attendance at Outdoor Science School is a very memorable highlight of their school year.
What Students Learn
The Outdoor Science
School curriculum is focused on the study of ecosystems
and is coordinated with the California State Science
Framework and the Science Content Standards. Students learn
about different types of ecosystems, the different parts of
an ecosystem, how those parts function together, and how
humans interact with ecosystems. The outdoors is our
classroom and the natural environment is our laboratory.
Students learn through direct experience and observation
within the natural environments surrounding our school
sites.
Social Environment
In addition to the academic science instruction,
the Outdoor Science School experience provides a unique
opportunity to learn about human interrelationships.
Students live at the school site for the week in a cabin
with approximately 10 other children. With the help of their
cabin leader, they are responsible for keeping their cabin
neat and clean, setting and cleaning tables during meals,
and working cooperatively with their cabin mates to
accomplish the tasks of daily living.
Staff and Safety
The Outdoor Science School staff are trained
educators with degrees in science and experience teaching
children in the outdoors. They are also trained in safety,
first aid, and emergency response. Children are supervised
at all times during their stay at LACOSS. Every possible
effort has been made to provide children with quality
education, nutritious meals, safe activities, and adequate
rest.
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© LACOSS, 2003
Last Revised: November 16, 2004
Comments or Questions? webmaster@OutdoorScienceSchool.org